Odds And Ends: Yankees, Pedro, Mets
Links for Saturday morning…
- Some Yankees fans are frustrated by the first month C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira spent in pinstripes, but Torii Hunter would be happy to add them to the Angels, according to Matt Gagne's article in the New York Daily News.
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles continue to deny interest in Pedro Martinez.
- MLB.com's Marty Noble reports that Omar Minaya now says the Mets have an "edge".
- Noble adds that Oliver Perez could conceivably be asked to accept a minor league assignment if he pitches poorly today.
- ESPN.com's Peter Gammons discusses teams' recent appreciation for a strong defense.
- Gammons spoke with on GM who suggested we're in a golden era of second basemen in which players like Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Robinson Cano and Aaron Hill hit well at a "defensive" position.
- ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian asks why the Rangers have always been offense-first.
- Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays are scouting high school pitcher Shelby Miller.
Rangers Release Derrick Turnbow
According to Jamey Newberg of TheNewbergReport.com, the Rangers have released Derrick Turnbow after the pitcher triggered a clause in his contract that allowed him to demand a release. Turnbow and the Rangers agreed that he would be able to ask for his release if he wasn't on the team by May 1st. Turnbow walked nine and allowed 11 hits in 6.1 innings in AAA, striking out one batter.
Odds & Ends: Glavine, Thorman, Sheffield
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- ESPN's Buster Olney talked to Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, who has no plans to pursue the available free agent pitchers.
- MLB.com's Mark Bowman has the latest on Tom Glavine's shoulder rehab. Glavine seems more optimistic than when he last addressed the media.
- Jamey Newberg says the Rangers released first baseman Scott Thorman after 32 Triple A at-bats.
- Steve Lombardi at WasWatching.com did a Q&A with Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
- Jorge Says No! creates a roster of the worst free agent contracts of 2000-04.
- Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues says the Gary Sheffield-Tigers trade was still a win for the Yankees even though the prospects haven't panned out.
- Over at RotoAuthority, I talked about three pitchers I drafted but already gave up on.
Odds & Ends: Perez, D’Backs, Baez
Links for Monday…
- RotoAuthority looks more closely at the Pirates' MLB-best rotation.
- Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Marlins won't be pursuing Luis Vizcaino.
- On Saturday, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wrote that the Rangers don't expect to be in on Pedro Martinez, but could have interest in Vizcaino for a Triple A job.
- Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts has a quick American League Elias rankings preview.
- Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post thinks Oliver Perez may be headed to the bullpen or even Triple A if he'll consent. Perez has pitched poorly in three of his four starts. He's had streaks like this before, though.
- With Brandon Webb out for at least six weeks, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wonders if the Diamondbacks will be sellers this summer.
- Could Danys Baez have midseason trade value? Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun thinks it's possible, despite the pitcher's $5.5MM salary.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks back at last summer's Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte deal with the Pirates.
- Murray Chass thinks Ned Colletti deserves a contract extension. Do you agree?
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. wonders who will be the first American-born player to exploit a draft loophole by dropping out of high school and living in another country for a year to become a free agent.
Pedro Martinez May Sign Soon
6:47pm: Just to clarify, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says the team maintains mild interest in Pedro.
1:41pm: For what it's worth, Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post would like to see the Nationals ink Pedro. He believes the organization has more than enough money, citing the recent Forbes findings, to match the right-hander's high salary demands.
FRIDAY, 8:53am: MLB.com's Bill Ladson has a source saying the Nationals haven't had interest in Pedro since Spring Training. The door remains just a crack open in the event that Martinez becomes amenable to an inexpensive contract. Otherwise, Ladson's Nationals source says, "We are satisfied with our rotation even though there is going to be some bumps along the way. We wouldn't want to make any changes there."
Meanwhile, here's Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talking about Pedro.
THURSDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Pedro Martinezcould decide on his next team within two weeks. He's set to begin throwing off a mound tomorrow. Rosenthal says Pedro is open to both contending and rebuilding teams, but continues to demand a $5MM salary. ESPN's Jayson Stark suggested today that Martinez's exorbitant asking price may be a way of delaying his return.
A rundown of possible suitors, from Rosenthal:
- Angels GM Tony Reagins recently admitted to contacting Pedro's agent, but Rosenthal says "the two sides have not spoken in more than two weeks."
- Rosenthal learned from Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo that the team has mild interest in Pedro and scouted him in March. Martinez's asking price is the issue.
- The Rangers have some interest.
- Rosenthal's Yankees source denies interest in Pedro, despite the pitcher telling friends the opposite. There is a Dominican newspaper report floating about suggesting a Pedro-Yankees union, but we'll trust Rosenthal's source.
- The Indians don't have the money, the Dodgers don't like the price, and the Mets aren't interested.
- Rosenthal does not mention the Orioles, Cardinals, or Pirates, teams that have been linked to Pedro in the past.
Red Sox Acquire Kason Gabbard
According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers have traded left-hander Kason Gabbard to the Red Sox for cash considerations.
The Red Sox immediately assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket. Gabbard, 27, was 2-3 last season with a 4.82 ERA in 12 starts for Texas. He was converted to a reliever this offseason but didn't make the big club out of spring training.
Interesting side note: Gabbard was a member of the Red Sox just a few years ago, but was traded in 2007 as part of a package for Eric Gagne. The other pieces in that deal? David Murphy and Engel Beltre.
Odds & Ends: Valuations, Figueroa, Thome
Links for Thursday…
- Forbes' MLB team valuations are out. The Yankees top the list at $1.5 billion, while the Marlins are 30th at $277 million.
- Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says Nelson Figueroa will refuse the Mets' assignment to Triple A and become a free agent.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports talked to Jim Thome about many topics, including his future and the Cleveland discussion with Manny.
- Peter Gammons spoke to Yankees GM Brian Cashman yesterday at Southern Connecticut State University. This AP article has a few tidbits, but let me know if you find a transcript. Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant has a few quotes.
- MLB.com's David Singh has the story of Darren O'Day's interesting day.
Rangers Claim Darren O’Day
According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, the Rangers claimed reliever Darren O'Day off waivers from the Mets. O'Day's Rule 5 situation remains – the Rangers have to keep him in the Majors or offer him back to the Angels.
O'Day, 26, posted fine numbers at Triple A last year with a 3.27 ERA, 8.2 K/9, and 1.9 BB/9.
On the Mets front, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News notes that pitcher Nelson Figueroa cleared waivers.
Rosenthal On Edmonds, Cooper, Angels
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Jim Edmonds still wants to play in 2009. Rosenthal learned from his agent that the outfielder intensified his workouts recently. It still may take him up to three weeks to be game-ready.
- Rosenthal finds the Astros' decision to exercise Cecil Cooper's 2010 option questionable. Rosenthal had wondered earlier in the week if Cooper might be the first manager fired. While we're on the topic, Ron Washington's job in Texas does not seem to be in jeopardy according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
- Rosenthal notes that calling up Derek Holland now instead of letting him break camp with the Rangers will delay his free agency by a year. The Rangers were willing to make that sacrifice with Elvis Andrus (assuming he's not demoted in the future).
- The Angels could consider several recently-designated pitchers: Steven Shell, Wil Ledezma, Darren O'Day, Nelson Figueroa, and Philip Humber.
Rangers DFA Rupe, Call Up Derek Holland
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Rangers have designated reliever Josh Rupe for assignment.